Server Apparatus for Synchronizing Environmental Data in Online Sessions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional online meeting systems fail to share environmental factors such as sound, light, and hue between multiple information processing devices, limiting the immersive experience in online meetings, lectures, and other sessions.
Innovation Solution
A server apparatus manages sessions by associating and transmitting collateral environmental information, such as sound, image, and illumination data, between host and user terminals, allowing them to control and synchronize the environment across devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional online meeting systems transmit only content data (audio, video, display screens), then the system complexity remains low and content sharing is effective, but environmental factors (sound, light, hue) cannot be shared between devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments environmental information into distinct types (sound environment, light environment, hue environment) and handles each type separately through dedicated transmission and reproduction mechanisms. This allows the system to add environmental sharing functionality without overwhelming complexity, as each environmental aspect can be managed independently
Solution Approach 2:
The server apparatus acts as an intermediary that receives environmental information from host terminals, stores it associated with session information, and distributes it to user terminals. This intermediary approach centralizes the complexity management and enables environmental sharing without requiring direct peer-to-peer complex coordination between devices
2Adaptability or versatility
If environmental information is shared between multiple devices, then immersive experience is enhanced, but the amount of data transmitted increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server apparatus stores environmental information in advance and associates it with session information before actual reproduction is needed. This preliminary storage and organization allows for efficient retrieval and distribution during the session without requiring continuous large-scale data transmission, as the data is pre-prepared and indexed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different reproduction strategies for different environmental types based on their specific characteristics. Sound environments use audio reproduction, light environments use illumination control, and hue environments use color adjustment. This localized approach optimizes data handling for each type, reducing unnecessary data volume by processing only the specific environmental aspects needed at each location
Data Source
AI summary
A server apparatus is communicably connected to multiple information processing devices and is configured to manage a session in which content data are transmitted and received between the multiple information processing devices. A communication management unit is configured to manage a connection to the session by each of the information processing devices. An information management unit is configured to receive a request from at least one of the information processing devices and to associate collateral information about an environment with the session. An information transmission unit is configured to transmit the collateral information to the at least one of the information processing devices.